Drainpipe cleaner



June 10, 1930. BRQWN 1,762,608

DRAIN PIPE CLEANER Filed June 10, 1929 Berri" L. Brown .liiornevs.

Patented June 10, 1930' BERT L. BROWN, LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA DRAINPIPE CLEANER Application filed June 10,

This invention relates to means for quickly and easily cleaning out drain pipes and the like, and the principal object thereof is to provide a drain pipe cleaner that is effective in removing foreign substances from drain pipes, especially substances lodged in air seals that are compact in a mass of grease, soap or the like. To that end I provide a cleaner provided with two flexible pipe lines, one of which can be secured to the hot water faucet so that the soap and grease in the mass can be softened or melted by the hot water, and the other pipe can be connected to the cold water faucet to add volume to the water discharging on the mass, so that as soon as the mass has been softened the volume of water will dislodge it from the drain pipe or air seal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drain pipe cleaner that can be easily manipulated to cause all of the water under whatever pressure it may be to discharge into the drain pipe. To that end I provide a stand-pipe mounted on a sponge ball base with an opening through the base about the same diameter as the o ening in the drain pipe so that the full disc arge of water from both faucets can pass into the drain pipe,

and also thestand-pipe forms an elongated handle by which an operator can apply great pressure to the sponge base to seat it over the inlet to the drain pipe to positively prevent leakage between the base and drain pipe so that theentire pressure on the water can be directed into the drain pipe.

Features of invention are shown in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts whereby a drain pipe cleaner is provided that is neat and pleasing in appearance, easy to construct and operate and durableand effective in use.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention in which:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a wash-bowl showing ,a drain pipe cleaner in use therein 1929. Serial N0. 369,885.

that is constructed in accordance with this lnvention.

Fig. 2 is a section 011 line 2-2, Fig. 1, showing another view of the drain pipe cleaner.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental section on line 33, Fig. 1, showing the drain pipe cleaner arranged over the inlet end of a drain pipe ready for use, parts being about actual size.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectionon the line 44. Fig. 3, showing the nipples arranged about ninety degrees apart so that their respective flexible pipes can be more conveniently attached to the hot and cold water faucets of the wash bowl.

The drain pipe cleaner includes a sponge rubber ball 10 having a flattened base 11 that is adapted to be seated on the bottom of a Wash bowl 12 and over the inlet end of a drain pipe 13 so as to prevent leakage between the ball base and drain pipe when the appliance is in use.

Extending vertically to the flattened portion 11 and centrally through the ball 10 is a center opening into the upper end of which the lower threaded end of a standp'ipe 14 is secured; and preferably the opening through the stand-pipe is about the same diameter as the inlet opening into the drain pipe, it being understood that it can be either larger or smaller if so desired.

The top end of the stand-pipe 14 is sealed by an integral plug 15- and: some distance below the plug the stand-pipe is provided with nipples 16 and 17 that preferably are arranged at right angles toone another and the openings through these nipples is considerably less than the inside diameter of the stand-pipe so that the latter can easily take the full flow of water through the nipples.

The nipple 16 is connected by a flexible pipe 18 to the hot water faucet 19, and the other nipple 17 is connected by a flexible pipe 20 to the cold water faucet 21 so that either or both faucets can be opened as may be desired to discharge water into the standpipe 14 to drive foreign substances out of the drain pipe 13.

The nipples 16 and 17 are preferably arranged at right angles to one another so that their respective pipes 18 and 20 extend Also the nipples 16 and 17 are arranged some distance below the seal 25 so as to form an air chamber above the inlet ends of the nipples which aids in maintaining a pressure on the water when the stand-pipe is charged with water to a point above the openings through the nipples.

In use the apparatus is placed in the wash-bowl 12 with the ball base seated over the discharge pipe so that the opening through the base and pipe are in register.

Then with the flexible pipes 18 and 20 connected, as stated, the hot water faucet 19 can'be opened to fill the standpipe and drain pipe in the event the latter is fully stopped by foreign substance in thewaterseal or any other portion of the pipe. The stand pipe serves as a handle to hold the base seated so as to prevent leakage between it and the inlet end of the drain pipe while the hot water is acting on the foreign substance to melt the grease or soap therein.

The ball 10 is formed, of soft sponge rubher so that it can yield considerably as indicated by the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3 and sothe soft rubber base can be seated on uneven surfaces so as to prevent leaka e between the base and inlet end of the discharge pipe 13.

After the hot water has been applied to so soften the soap or grease the cold water faucet 21 is turned on to add volume to the water to drive out the mass of substance causing the stoppage. It is understood that this drain pipe cleaner can be used in cleaninkg out sinks, wash-tubs, bathtubs and the I claim as my invention:

1. In a drain pipe cleaner the combination of a sponge rubber ball base adapted to be seated so that a center opening therethrough is in register with the inlet ends of a drain pipe, a stand-pipe having its lower. end secured in the opening through said base that serves as a handle fomapplying pressure to prevent leakage between said base and drain pipe, nipples arranged at right angles to one another and adjacent the upper end of said stand pipe, water faucets, and flexible detachable pipe connections between said faucetsand nipples.

2. In a drain pipe cleaner the combination of a sponge rubber ball base, a drain pipe having an inlet end over which said base is adapted to be seated so that a center opening through said base registers with the inlet opening in said drain pipe, a standpipe having its lower end secured in the upper end of the opening through said base,

. the diameter of the openings through said 

